Don't misunderstand. I'm not saying a transformative, improved work should be prohibited. It should not. A DIRECT COPY with or without Minor Modifications just isn't fair.

The PURPOSE (which has been PERVERTED) of the system was to protect my company which researched, created, produced and most importantly SOLD a gadget from being copied directly by someone who is just a copycat and did no innovation. The purpose is to SPUR innovation not stifle it.

The present system allows someone to "patent" and IDEA - an abstraction that isn't used as a product at all and isn't even produced and then profit from said IDEA by using the legal system. That STIFLES innovation. I'm not for that at all.

IF a company happend to patent something and then produced a product and for whatever reason discontinued production -- that patent should be up for grabs for at least a license that cannot be denied by the patent holder so that it can continue to be produced.

I think the solution to the problem is to disallow software and business model patents and only allow them on produced physical goods.

There should be some protection (counterfeit laws?) to protect a company that spends significant time in R&D then produces a product from direct copying or copying with minor modifications. This was the initial vision of the patent system. I agree that it is hugely abused and patents are not issued in a specific enough manner.

I expected a few flames from the post. I actually agree with Tech Dirt on most everything and find the blog enlightening and insightful. Even this post. I tried humor. Maybe it's why I'm not a comic. At any rate, the initial part was the "setup" and the "punch line" was the copyright issue. Why wouldn't a malware author go after an Anti virus company for copyright infringement? Illegal Activity? That aspect hasn't stopped some people in the past. It was meant to be slightly sarcastic and funny. Guess I missed the sarcasm tag.

It's a little more complicated than that. The truth is the commission is your price to get FAIRLY CONSIDERED on the MLS.

Standard commission where I am is 6%. Real estate agents don't highly consider the homes for sale at lower percentages.

While I can get on the MLS with a 1-2 percent commission the home won't be seriously considered.

This is CHANGING now that we have the aggregators showing the homes and people can find the homes faster than they can find a realtor.

The whole argument that the realtor is necessary for the inspections, offers, negotiation is specious.

I just bought a second home. I knew the seller and just drew up a simple for sale contract and took it to my bank and then chose a title company and they handled all the documents etc. It was inexpensive for the seller (Though there is still the title insurance scam) and it worked well.

I'd love to sell my other home myself. But the REALITY of the situation is that a realtor is presently a bonus convenience. I don't have to like it and I can certainly hope for a change in how things operate.

I'm (trying) to sell a home. What do realtors in my area do? Put it on the MLS. Then they wait. They wait for someone to have an interest. They make big noises about it getting on the aggregate sites (realtor.com, trulia, zillow) and that being a selling point. I've been through several companies - NOTHING differentiates one company from another. It's a scam. And I get to pay 6% of my selling price to someone who basically just inputs some data and WAITS.

There are ways to get into the MLS cheaper but realtors don't show these "low commission" homes.

So we sit here and basically pay a "tax" to get into the MLS so the home can sell. I'd love to be part of something BIGGER than the MLS that lets homes sell without paying this "tax". It is WAY out of line and this industry is RIPE for technological disruption. It can't happen fast enough for me.

We were eating breakfast and we had a little box of raisins. You know, the ones not marked for resale. So they didn't have any nutritional information on them. But they did have one of these QR Codes (Never knew they were QR before today). I used my phone to see if I could get the nutritional info - would have been nice if I could - but got an advertising site for sunmaid instead.

I absolutely agree. The software is even FREE for distribution - no charge. The source is available. The only "problem" may be the fact that the source for the API's used in the Apple SDK are closed. Is that REALLY a problem with the GPL?

I don't think it's a fight apple wants to get into. So the easiest thing is to just remove the application. Sad but I can see where they would not want to assume legal liability for every application and developer.

What's the big deal with Amazon? The sales tax is nothing more than administrative and not onerous. They even get to earn interest on the money before they pay it. They SHOULD have been collecting it and passing it on. I'm willing to bet that they turn on the sales tax collection in Texas (anyone from Texas want to try to buy something to see?) and then settle with the state.

The letter of the law is on the states side here - not because of Woot but because of the distribution center.

Why even try to hide it as I said - the consumer is paying the sales tax.

Now if Amazon really wanted to get froggy they could go after their past customers for the back sales tax....